12 And they answered them, and said, Ac.10.9. He is; behold he is before you: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for there is a 1 sacrifice of the people to-e Ge.31.54. day in the high place: I or, feast. c.16.2. d 1 Kì.3.2. 13 As soon as ye be come into the city ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and after- Mar.6.41. wards they eat that be bidden. Now there2 time fore get you up; for about this shall find him. ye Lu.24.30. 2 to-day. 6 i 2 Sa.5.2. Ps.78.71. Ge.35.19,20. Ex.2.23-25. k c.10.1. m Jos.18.28. Ps.106.44. 5 business. o Ac.13.21. Samuel anointeth Saul. 25 And when they were come " down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house. b 26 And they arose early: and it came to pass, about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still 2 awhile, that I may shew thee the word of God. CHAP. X. T THEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? ¿ 2 When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre,' in the border of Benjamin, at Zelzah; " and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the 5 care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? 3 Then shalt thou go on forward from I spake to thee of: this same shall reign & restrain in. thence, and thou shalt come to the plain 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to-day; Ju.18.15. and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. 20 And as for thine asses, that were lost 3 three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house? 21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least? of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me? 22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons. 9 I 23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is 12 left! set it before thee, and eat; for unto this time hath it been kept for thee, since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el, P one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: 4 And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread, which thou shalt receive of their hands. 5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place, with a psaltery," and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: 6 And the Spirit " of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7 And 10 let it be, when these signs arc come unto thee, 11 that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee. b 8 And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do. 9 And it was so, that when he had turned his 13 back to go from Samuel, God 14 gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 And when they came thither to the Saul among the prophets. 1 SAMUEL, XI. hill, behold, a company of prophets met B. C. 1095. him; and the Spirit of God came upon a ver.6. him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him before-time saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? 12 And one of the same place answered, and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets? c.11.6. b c.11.4. De.13.13. 2 Ch.13.7. 10.25. 2 Ch.17.5. 1 a man to his 2 or, was as e c.19.20-24. 3 from thence. Ju.21.8,&c. h Is.36.16. 13 And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place. 14 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw j c.17.26. that they were nowhere, we came to Samuel. i Pr.12.10. 4 The election of a king 26 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; band there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. c 27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents: but he 2 held his peace. THE CHAP. XI. HEN Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach Jupon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, 15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray Forbear us. Give us seven days' respite, that we may thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But 2 Sa.21.6. of the matter of the kingdom, whereof c.15.34. Samuel spake, he told him not. 17 And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;' m I c.7.5,6. 18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Im Ju.2.2. brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: 0 19 And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations: and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. n c.10.10. 12.12. Ps.106.8-10. Is.63.9. Ju.19.29. r Jos.7.14,&c. Ju.21.5-10. 5 as one man. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the Ju.1.5. family of Matri was taken, and Saul, the son of Kish, was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. or, deliver ance. 23 And they ran and fetched him thence: u c.31.11. and when he stood among the people, he c.9.2. was higher than any of the people, from his w ver.3. shoulders and upward. 24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king! 25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.. 5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with 5 one consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have 6 help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, Tomorrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. 11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning-watch, and slew the Am1 Ki.1.25,39. monites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together Samuel's discourse to Israel. 1 SAMUEL, XIII. Who is he that said, " Shall Saul reign B. C. 1095. over us? bring the men, that we may put a c.10.27. them to death. C c Lu.19.27. a b Ju.6.14,32. Ju.11.1, &c. c.7.13. 2 Sa.19.22. c.19.5. f 1 Sa.14,45. g c.11.2. Is.59.16. i c.10.8. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal: and there they sacrificed j Hos.13.11. sacrifices of peace-offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Jos.24.14,20. Israel rejoiced greatly. CHAP. XII. ND Samuel said unto all Israel, Be Ps.81.12-15. 1 mouth. A hold, I have hearkened unto your 2 be after. voice in all that ye said unto me, and i c.8.5,19,20. have made m a king over you. m c.10.24. 11.14,15. &c. 2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayhead-n Le.26.14, ed; and, behold, my sons are with you; o ver.9. and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. 3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anoint Ac.20.33. 2 Co.12.14 Ja.5.16-18. ed: whose ? ox have I taken? or whose p Nu.16.15. ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose g hand have I received any bribe s 4 blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. to 4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand. ransom. 4 or, that I should hide mine eyes at him. r De.16.19. $ Ex.22.4. t Ex.14.31. Ezr.10.9. u Ac.24.16,20. 5 And he said unto them, the LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that " ye have not found Ex.9.28. aught in my hand. And they answered, He is witness. 10.17. Is.26.16. 1 Jno.5.16. 11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe. 12 And when ye saw that Nahash, the king of the children of Ammon, came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us; when the LORD your God was your king. 13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. 14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye, and also the king that reigneth over you, continue following the LORD your God: 2 15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then " shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat-harvest to-day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray " for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: (ye have done all this wickedness; yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain:2) 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. C a c.10.26. found. b c.14.2. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of c c.10.5. the Philistines that was in 2 Geba; and 2 or, the hill. the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew 3 Geba, the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. ver.3. Ge.34.30. Ex.5.21. 4 And all Israel heard say, that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and 4 did stink. that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were d Jos.18.23. called together after Saul to Gilgal. Ge.14.2. 5 And the Philistines gathered them-e Jos. 16.3. selves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horse-ƒ men, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came g 2 Ki.24.14. up and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Beth-aven. Ne.11.34. Hos.11.8. Is.54.16. A Jos.7.2. 8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. set. 7 trembled after him. Ju.5.8. war against Israel. which the LORD commanded thee. 15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. 1 16 And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. 17 And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, d unto the land of Shual: 18 And another company turned the way to Beth-horon: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of ƒ Zeboim, toward the wilderness. 19 Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; (for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears;) 20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. 9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burntoffering to me, and peace-offerings. And 8 or, standing 23 And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of " Michmash. CHAP. XIV. TOW 9 it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side. But he told not his father. 2 And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah, under a pomegranate-tree, which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about" six hundred men; 3 And Ahiah, ° the son of Ahitub, I-chabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. t 4 And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5 The 12 fore front of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah. 6 And Jonathan said to the young man 11 And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where c.13.6. they had hid themselves. i Ex.3.8. j 2 Ki.14.8. 12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and said, Come up to us and we will shew you j a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armour-bearer, Come up after me; for the 28a.5.24. LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. c.30.12. Pr.25.16. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and m they fell before m Le.26.8. Jonathan; and his armour-bearer slew after him. 18 And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hi-128.15.24ther the ark of God: (for the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.) 19 And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the 6 noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. 3 5 or, dealt treacherously. 8 Nu.27.21. 7 were cried 22 Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth aven. 24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. i 25 And all they of the land came to a wood, and there was honey upon the ground. 26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honey-comb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 28 Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were 2 faint. 29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey; 30 How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines. 31 And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint. 32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have 5 transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. 34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and 20 And Saul and all the people that were every man his sheep, and slay them here, with him assembled themselves, and they s in his hand. and eat; and sin not against the LORD came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, t Ju.7.22. |